The Optimists

I am Steph, I currently work at Derby Theatre as their Arts Administrator for Creative Programmes, where I work closely with the Senior Producer on all produced and received shows at the venue.

I’m exceptionally excited about the ever changing and developing theatre happening everywhere, with new theatre-makers who are challenging boundaries. I am always amazed by how the arts can impact and allow us to reflect and impact so greatly, I thoroughly believe everyone deserves a place/space to express themselves and I want to help make that possible.

I work for a commercial producer in London and in my free time produce my own projects.

I like to work on new writing and new translation projects, for film and theatre, ideally working with the writers on developing the script from an early stage.

I would love to do some writing myself one day.

I’m an Actor, Singer, Director, Theatre Maker (and soon to be trained producer) who has graduated from the University of Northampton, where I studied Acting for contemporary devised performance.

I recently worked as Assistant Producer on Highrise Entertainment’s The UK Drill Project. I’m also an Associate artist of Highrise Entertainment and starred As ‘Baloo’ in their show The Concrete Jungle Book, directed by Dominic Garfield in both 2021 and 2022.

As an emerging theatre maker, I believe having a better knowledge of self-producing and producing for others will allow me to create and aid the creation on some amazing theatre.

I am the Admin & Comms Officer for Luca Silvestrini’s Protein dance company and a freelance dance producer. I graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Central School of Speech and Drama.

Since graduating I have supported the education programmes at The Royal Academy of Dance, The Royal Ballet School and worked with AWA Dance on the Women in Dance Award, helping to recognise and celebrate the achievements of female-identifying leaders in the dance sector. I developed a passion for community, outdoor arts whilst at Emergency Exit Arts and strongly believes in its ability to educate, engage and introduce new audiences to the arts.

At Protein Dance I am currently working on a celebration event for Refugee Week 2023 and setting up a dance project for children in alternative provision schools.
Alongside my work with Protein, I work with emerging choreographers and advocates for better sector support for early-career choreographers.

I am Holly, a neurodivergent theatre maker and producer based in the West Midlands.

I have self-produced and co-produced my own solo shows; FLAPPY, about Dyspraxia which received Arts Council England funding and toured in Midland’s venues. I have also produced scratch nights such as Theatre Mix – a series of online scratch nights for West Midlands artist, from musicians, poets, actors, dancers to try out work.

I am passionate about accessibility within events and performances and planning accessibility before a project has begun, ensuring accessibility in rehearsals, marketing, and performances. I am on learning curve on testing and learning how best to do this.

I’m a disabled, hard of hearing and neurodivergent actor and writer from Stockport.

I’m a graduate of The Lir’s BA Acting course in 2021, current advisory board member at the West End’s Jerymn Street Theatre and currently part of Pentabus’ National Young writers programme and CRIPtic theatre’s Reach development scheme.

My interest in The Optimists comes from previously working as a producer on my play Imitation Princess where I successfully received Arts Council England funding for an R&D (Research and Development) and wish to learn how to develop my producing skills for future productions.

I am a Visual Artist, Producer, Production Manager and Art Director, working across film, photography, installation, and audio.

My work has been included and featured at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Belgrade Theatre, UK Screen Skills, and the Midlands Art Centre.

Making relatable content is important for equal representation and opportunity. My passion and energy are to deliver innovative ideas for screen and live performance, expanding possibilities through integrated mediums, technology, R&D, and helping transform local visual culture.

My journey as a Producer started a year and half ago, when I began teaching myself the various roles involved in creating a production through reading testimonies, analysing plays, speaking to other producers, and attending events. I entered a competition at the Belgrade Theatre to showcase my play. Although unsuccessful, I was awarded the opportunity to participate in a Producer workshop.

I enjoy using art as a vehicle for change, accessibility, entertainment, justice, research, and education and an opportunity to break down the elitist barrier that theatre is a space for all ethnic groups. I’m from the Black Country and enjoy upcycling products, song writing, producing ideas for productions and organising events in my spare time.

Currently, I work full-time as a Project Manager in Housing Developer. However, attending The Optimist course will provide a good foundation for my next career move.

I am a re-emerging disabled neurodivergent creative.

I am a trained Director (Rose Bruford, RTYDS), commissioned writer, access consultant and qualified teacher. I am also mum/carer to two neurodivergent children.

I am trying to embrace this – taking space in places I have been shown I can’t and to enable as many others to do the same. My focus is on creating spaces for those who have the most barriers to the Arts. Developing new ways to work. Dismantling the ways, we are told to make and exploring new practice. Recognition that creatives often are multi-skilled and not defined by one role.

As a producer my current interests extend to creating in digital forms, co-creation, local community arts in Warwick, with the aim of connection, a national organisation for disabled young people and experimentation in sensory theatre. Just because it’s the way it has always been doesn’t make it’s good.

I am a choreographer, dancer, and actress who also self-produces and I work both nationally and internationally.

My main interest in producing is to develop my skills to be able to take my work further and reach new understandings and insights.

Originally from the United States, I am interested in work that is both locally and globally meaningful, primarily through theatre and community engagement.

I studied community theatre at East 15 and have been fortunate to work with a community theatre company for the last 2 years on a variety of projects: a community art project with residents of sheltered housing blocks, a large scale, original community musical for the Queen’s Baton Relay, and an outdoor sustainable fashion show powered by bicycles. More recently, I collaborated with Creative Basildon on a project which encouraged intergenerational activity through personal storytelling, as tied to objects of sentimental value.

I’m passionate about people coming together to hear and to tell stories, and I’m excited by outdoor and site-responsive work in non-traditional spaces. I’m interested in continuing work with international partners on more traditional theatre as well as community based and experimental work.

I am an arts producer. I mostly work with creative communities across the West Midlands, contributing to the production of events and general content.

I prefer to take a holistic and person centered approach to creating and aim to interrogate systems and structures that contribute to the marginalisation of minority groups within the arts.

I am a creative producer who focuses on the inclusivity and celebration of often marginalised communities such as the LGBTQAI+ community and those who are racially other-ed. Having grown up rarely seeing myself represented in mainstream arts and media, I seek to produce arts and culture that centers the queer and/or black experience.

I produce with Raze Collective to support and develop both in-person and digital queer performance such as leading on a digital audio stories project, Raze Sounds & co-producing an annual large-scale festival event, Queer Summer Fayre. I have experience producing theatre, cabaret & musicals at University College of London and has worked extensively in stage management & production roles with The Cocoa Butter Club, Mighty Hoopla, Underbelly, The Yard Theatre, RVT & Camden People’s Theatre. I am currently developing a podcast centering those who feel ‘other-ed’ with the support of the award-winning Transmissions Roundhouse.

I’m Hannah, a poet, artist, teacher, and big believer in the power of storytelling and play. My debut collection This Dress Has Pockets was published by Verve Poetry Press in 2019. I have performed across the country and internationally, on stages, streets, and radio. My work explores themes of nostalgia, family relationships, mental health, history, and heritage.

I enjoy the mess and materiality of making, finding initial inspirations from real places and people. Trained across Fine Art, Theatre and Creative Writing, I have a kaleidoscopic background that means I can create interdisciplinary work that evokes thought, questions reality and celebrates the little things in life.

After a balanced artistic practice of written and live performance, I’m so excited to become an Optimist, learning the power of production to make my work bloom to the next level. I want to build exciting, imaginative theatre that changes perspectives and celebrates forgotten stories.

By profession I am a secondary school teacher specialising in RE and PSHE.

I am currently elected as General Secretary at the Hindu Temple Derby. This role involves me carrying out fund/grant raising, outreach work as well as organising both cultural and religious events. I applied for The Optimists, so I could develop my skills and become more efficient in my role.